Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said on Friday that Nigeria got all kinds of support for the release of the 344 abducted schoolboys of Kankara, Katsina State. Mohammad also insisted that no ransom was paid for the release of the students, saying: “Our security and intelligence agencies were completely on top of the situation.”
The schoolboys were released Thursday night after six days in captivity.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the minister said “As to whether there was foreign collaboration, don’t forget I said that we thank all patriotic Nigerians and all friends of Nigeria.”
According to him, “there is no where in the world that they don’t negotiate with terrorists”, especially when there is a need to save lives.
Mohammed insisted that the boys were kidnapped by bandits, dismissing the videos of the abducted schoolboys reportedly released by Boko Haram.
“They were kidnapped by bandits, not by Boko Haram. The attempt by Boko Haram to claim responsibility shows how decimated and irrelevant they have become. There is no doubt as to who kidnapped the schoolboys.”
“Boko Haam was seeking relevance by trying to appropriate to themselves the work of bandits. A lot of fake videos were being sent out by Boko Haram to create the impression that they did it. Boko Haram is weakened and seeking relevance and trying to give the impression that they are still a potential force.” he said.
Addressing the question of the Chibok girls abducted in 2014, the minister said the circumstances of the abduction of the schoolboys and Chibok schoolgirls were different.
The minister described the abduction of Kankara students as well as those of Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls as totally unacceptable, saying: “Our children should not
have to go to school in trepidation.
“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to secure all our schools, and indeed all Nigerians. and we will not relent until all Nigerians can go to bed at night with their two eyes closed.
“The release of these school boys is a testament to the importance that this Administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians.
